Half Marathon Training

The following heart rate based half marathon training program is courtesy of Asics made specifically for the Buller Gorge Half Marathon. Each day has a distance to run or walk, followed by a heart rate training zone to work in during that day – further explanations of heart rate zones will follow.

You can use the distance aspect of this training program by itself and be prepared for Buller, but by including the heart rate training aspect you will be preparing yourself a lot more, by ensuring you are getting the most out of your training. Without a heart rate monitor it is hard to know if your workouts are actually helping you meet your objectives. You could be pushing yourself too hard and risking injury, or not working hard enough to get any benefits.

A heart rate monitor will give you the feedback you need to ensure you work hard enough to increase your fitness but don’t overtrain, and have the energy and motivation to complete the program, or even the days run.

This program is designed to work with Heart Rate Monitors that calculate your zones for you, however, you can calculate your zones yourself using the formula on the following page, and enter these zones into most of the Polar Heart Rate Monitor range.

Week 1

Don’t go too hard on Saturday; feel fast but finish feeling good.

Week 2

10km on Sunday, so take it easy on Saturday’s workout.

Week 3

This is an easy recovery week, relax and don’t do extra training!

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

4km. LZ: Easy Flat

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Wednesday

Rest.

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Thursday

4km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

5km. HZ: Middle, finish feeling strong.

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Sunday

8km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

4km. LZ: Easy Flat

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Wednesday

Rest.

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Thursday

4km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

4km. LZ: Easy Flat.

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Sunday

10km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

4km. BZ: Hills.

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Wednesday

Rest.

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Thursday

4km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

4km. BZ: + 2x200m Medium.

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Sunday

8km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 4

Make sure you do the distance on Sunday, Some long workouts are coming!

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

4km. BZ: Hills.

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Wednesday

5km. BZ: + 1k HZ.

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Thursday

4km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

5km. BZ: + 4x200m Medium.

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Sunday

13km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 5

The biggest week to date, if you feel tired miss Wednesday’s session.

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

6km. BZ: Hills.

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Wednesday

5km. BZ: + 1k HZ.

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Thursday

6km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

6km. HZ: + 2x400m Hard.

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Sunday

15km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 6

Sunday is a key workout for the Buller. Run slowly but do the distance.

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

8km. BZ: Hills.

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Wednesday

8km. BZ: + 2x1k HZ.

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Thursday

8km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

8km. HZ: + 4x400m Hard.

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Sunday

18km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 7

The biggest week of the programme. Do this and you will be ready.

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

8km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Wednesday

8km. BZ: + 3x1k HZ.

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Thursday

8km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

8km. HZ: + 4x400m Hard.

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Sunday

21km. BZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 8

This week should give you speed, watch that you don’t run too hard on Saturday!

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Monday

5km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Tuesday

5km. BZ: + 3x2min HZ.

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Wednesday

5km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Thursday

6km. BZ: Hills.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

10km. HZ (lower ½): Time trial/race pace.

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Sunday

10km. LZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 9

Another week to make you feel fast!

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

8km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Wednesday

8km. BZ: + 4x1k HZ.

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Thursday

8km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

8km. HZ: + 6x400m Hard.

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Sunday

21km or 10.5km. LZ: 10.5k race or 21km Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 10

Almost there. Still hold back a little on Saturday. Sunday is the last important session.

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

5km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Wednesday

8km. BZ: + 4x1k HZ.

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Thursday

5km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

10km race. HZ: Stay at the top of the zone.

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Sunday

18km. LZ: Easy Hills on Grass.

Week 11

This week should give you speed, watch that you don’t run too hard on Saturday!

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

4km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Wednesday

5km. BZ: + 2x1k HZ.

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Thursday

4km. BZ: Hills – Up Hills HZ.

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Friday

Rest.

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Saturday

4km. LZ: on Grass.

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Sunday

10km. BZ: + 5km at Race Pace.

Week 12

Another week to make you feel fast!

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Monday

Rest.

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Tuesday

2km. LZ: on Grass.

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Wednesday

2km. BZ: +3x200m HZ.

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Thursday

Rest.

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Friday

1km. LZ: Easy.

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Saturday

Buller Gorge Half Marathon!

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Sunday

Rest!

Heart Rate Training Program Definitions

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BZ = Basic Heart Rate Zone

LZ = Low Heart Rate Zone

Low Heart Rate Zone is the zone for exercising at light to moderate intensity and will be the zone for your easy or long runs to ensure you don’t over do it, and are getting rested when you need it. Keep your heart rate between 65-78%of your Maximum Heart Rate.

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HZ = High Heart Rate Zone

Your High Heart Rate Zone will get you working at a moderate to high intensity. These runs will build your fitness and speed, and will be incorporated into runs to build strength. Your heart rate can beat anywhere between 78-87% of your Maximum Heart Rate.

f

Easy Flat

Choose a course that is flat and does not include hills. This will help keep your heart rate in your Low target zone.

g

Hills

Choose a course that includes some good hills – around 200m long. This will challenge you more and build the strength in your legs to complete the half marathon. Try and keep your heart rate in your target zone.

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Up Hills HZ

Try and push yourself when you are going up hills to ensure you are working in your High Zone.

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On Grass

Choose a course where the majority of your run is on grass. This will help you stay injury free and keep the pressure off your knees and hips.

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2 x 1km HZ

Run 1km of your run in High Zone twice within the specified distance. This also applies for 3 x 1km HZ and 4 x 1km HZ, where you should try and do it three times and four times respectively in High Zone.

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2 x 200m Medium/Hard

These are called tempo runs, and mean you should up your tempo at different times in your run, to a medium or hard pace (depending on the run) for the nominated number of sets and the nominated distance. This applies for 4×200, 4×400 and 6×400. Always try and stay in your zone, and finish feeling strong, like you could do 2 more.

Based on your age alone or based on both your age and fitness level (Called the Karvonen formula). For people using this training program the basic calulation will suffice, however if you’re interested at the Karvonen formula check this link for information.

Age based formula

Your estimated maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. In order to get your target heart rate zones you need to do the following calculations:

Example:

Jimmy is 30 years old and his estimated maximum heart rate is 220-30=190.

Maximum heart rate * 0.6 = 190 * 0.6 =114

Maximum heart rate * 0.7 = 190 * 0.7 =133

Maximum heart rate * 0.8 = 190 * 0.8 = 152

Jimmy’s heart rate zones:

Zone 1: 114 – 133

Zone 2: 133 – 152

Zone 3: more than 152

Heart Rate Monitors

No matter what your exercise goals are they can all be reached using one simple tool – a heart rate monitor (HRM). To understand how a Heart Rate Monitor can help you achieve your goals, we established a three point message:

In order to reach your goals, you need to train at the right intensity.

Heart rate is the only accurate measurement of your intensity or your exertion level.

A heart rate monitor is the easiest and most accurate way to continuously measure your heart rate.

If you’re new to the concept of heart rate training, a heart rate monitor consists of a watch worn on your wrist or an app on your phone, and a transmitter that you comfortably wear against your skin and around your chest. The transmitter picks up the beats of your heart, and sends the signals wirelessly to the watch you wear on your wrist or your phone as a number of how many times a minute your heart is beating. It’s that simple. No taking your pulse and doing a multiplication equation. Just look at your wrist and your heartrates there – continuously – guiding you during your whole workout.
If you have any queries regarding this training program, please email info@asics.co.nz. If you’ve followed this program, we’d love to hear from you.